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Friday, 17 April 2015

US schools seek refund over $1.3bn iPad project

Schools in Los Angeles are seeking
compensation from Apple over a $1.3bn (£870m) iPad-based education project that
has gone awry.

They
have sent letters to Apple and its project partners seeking refunds.

The
project began in 2013 and aimed to give iPads and other computers to about
650,000 students.

It
hit problems when students were able to bypass security systems on the tablets
and because the computer-based curriculum was incomplete.

In
the letters, the LA Unified School District (LAUSD) said it was "extremely
dissatisfied" with the way the project has been handled, according to a
report in the LA Times.

The
scheme was intended to be a way for poorer pupils to keep up with wealthier
peers who already enjoyed access to tablets and other computer-based study
aids.

The
LA school district initially bought 43,261 iPads loaded with a maths and
English curriculum designed by educational and training firm Pearson. A further
77,000 iPads were bought to be used in standardised tests.

Teachers,
school heads and administrators were also expected to use the gadgets to
improve lessons and the way schools were run.

"While
Apple and Pearson promised a state-of-the-art technological solution they have
yet to deliver it," said the letters sent to the two firms this week.

Lawyers
acting for the school district are also believed to be considering legal action
against the two main suppliers. In addition, the schools have cut ties with the
firms and do not want them to be involved in any future development.

The
letters come after repeated demands from the LA school district that Apple and
Pearson improve the way the scheme was being run. In its complaints, the
district said only two schools were regular users of the iPad-based curriculum
and those that used it intermittently reported frequent problems.

Apple
has not responded to requests for comment about the complaints.

In
a statement, Pearson said it was "proud of our long history working with
LAUSD and our significant investment in this groundbreaking initiative to
transform instructional practices and raise expectations for all
students".

The
statement acknowledged the "challenges" there had been in
implementing the project but said it stood by the "quality of our
performance".

The
Pearson/Apple deal was one part of a $1.3bn programme that included spending
$700m on improving internet access at schools.

The
superintendent in charge of the LA school district who drew up and oversaw the
costly programme resigned after the problems with the scheme came to light.